Monday, May 4, 2009

Transport Me!

"And an ocean tumbled by with a private boat for Max and he sailed off through night and dayand in and out of weeks and almost over a year to where the wild things are." -- Maurice Sendak

My time with Jeremy Jacobs and his voyage at sea, reminded me of Max's voyage, which made me remember that it was time for me to book our yearly passage across Lake Michigan by high-speed ferry!

Since this big event happens only once a year, each time we board feels like a new experience for my daughter. Boarding a ferry as a 2-year-old can be very different than boarding a ferry at 5! Some years excited, some years trepidatious; either way it's great to prepare for travel through reading!

So, with the upcoming travel season upon us, let's explore all the ways we get from HERE to THERE! Planes, trains, automobiles...and BOATS, of course! This month we'll...

READThe Bridge is Up! by Babs BellAway We Go! by Rebecca Kai DotlichEmma's Vacation by David McPhailTwo Little Trains by Margaret Wise BrownNight Train by Caroline StutsonThe Bus For Us by Suzanne BloomThe Seals on the Bus by Lenny HortFirst Flight by David McPhailBoats Afloat by Shelley Rotner

FINGERPLAYI'M A LITTLE AIRPLANE to the tune of I'm a Little TeapotI’m a little airplane... I can fly! (arms shoulder height)Here are my instruments - low and high. (turn dials)When I get all revved up, (spin arm in front like a propeller)Watch me fly... (both arms up again)Off the runway to the sky! (up on tip toes)

ROW, ROW, ROW YOUR BOATRow, row, row your boat gently down the STREAM.Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily...Life is but a DREAM.Drive, drive, drive your car gently down the STREET.Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily...Life is such a TREAT.Fly, fly, fly your plane way up in the AIR.Merrily, merrily merrily merrily... Life without a CARE.

Finally, how excited I am to announce the debut of OUR VERY OWN RESIDENT MUSICIAN! Once I learned that this storytime regular sings, plays guitar, and is studying music education; it wasn't long before I convinced her to share her music with us. I requested one of my favorite songs from childhood and coincidentally it fits the travel theme perfectly. So get ready for some call-and-response fun! This month (Phin's nap schedule permitting) Nancy will lead us in song...

THE WORLD IS BIG, THE WORLD IS SMALL by Ella JenkinsO the world is big,And the world is SMALL.So there's lots of roomFor the short and the TALL.

O the world is far,And the world is WIDE.But there's many different waysTo see the other SIDE.

You can travel on a BOAT.You can travel on a PLANE.You can travel in a DANCE.You can travel in a GAME.

You can travel on a BUS.You can travel on a TRAIN.You can travel in a SONG.You can travel in a NAME.

Can you and your little one think of any OTHER interesting ways to be transported???